General, Retirement, SSI

Social Security Benefits U.S. Citizens Outside the United States

August 8, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: March 17, 2021

Benefits-outside-the-USOver half a million people who live outside the United States receive some kind of Social Security benefit, including retired and disabled workers, as well as spouses, widows, widowers, and children.

If you’re a U.S. citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments outside the United States as long as you are eligible. When we say you are “outside the United States,” we mean you’re not in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa. Once you’ve been outside the United States for at least 30 days in a row, we consider you to be outside the country.

If you are traveling outside the U.S. for an extended amount of time, it’s important that you tell Social Security the date you plan to leave and the date you plan to come back, no matter how long you expect your travel to last. Then we can let you know whether your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will be affected.

You can use this online tool to find out if you can continue to receive your Social Security benefits if you are outside the United States or are planning to go outside the United States at www.socialsecurity.gov/international/payments_outsideUS.html.

This tool will help you find out if your retirement, disability, or survivor’s payments will continue as long as you are eligible, stop after six consecutive calendar months, or if certain country specific restrictions apply.

When you live outside the United States, periodically we’ll send you a questionnaire. Your answers will help us figure out if you still are eligible for benefits. Return the questionnaire to the office that sent it as soon as possible. If you don’t, your payments will stop. In addition to responding to the questionnaire, notify us promptly about changes that could affect your payments.

You can also read the publication titled Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Social Security is with you through life’s journey, even if that journey takes you outside the United States.

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About the Author

Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications

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Comments

  1. Piotr Z.

    how to contact Social Security Office from outside USA by phone?

    • A.C.

      Hello, Piotr. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact their local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps.

  2. Darrelyn G.

    I am retired Andre diving SS Widow benefits. I want to live in Amsterdam for the next 5 years, alone, will I still be able to have my checks deposited into my USA bank and use my debit card to withdraw cash or pay at check out in stores?

  3. Engr.Nestor J.

    my brother Dave J. Clark a US Citizen died last November 2017 his Beneficiaries in his insurances are not his wife and children but his cousins namely Lauro A Landingin and Louie A. Landingin and they collected already 300,000pesos .Will you please sir, help us to verify this query

  4. Manuel T.

    I need a copy of my earnings statement for 2017.

  5. eyal h.

    Hi
    I am an american who leaves in israel , i am married to an israeli for about 15 years, i have three kids but only one of them has a ss# and a passport, what are my benefits when Its time, and what happanes if i die for my benefits?

    Sincerly
    Eyal hareli

  6. Fabio F.

    I receive pension from the SS in other country, not on the 26 on the list. I want to retire next year at 66 and plan to claim my benefits at 70, do I have to report the SS here if my annual pension is less than 15K a year?

    • R.F.

      Hello Fabio. In general, for purposes of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), a foreign pension based on employment not covered by U.S. Social Security is treated the same as any other pension based on non-covered employment.
      For specifics in your situation, you will have to speak to a Social Security representative at your local office or you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213.
      Representatives at our toll free number are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!

  7. Dave A.

    I didn’t know that if we were out of the United States for more than 30 days in a row that it could affect our social security income. That is really nice to know, so I can let social security know when I am going to be out of the states. I think planning is a big importance when it comes to social security. https://cooklaw.org/salt-lake-city/

  8. Ricky L.

    Can the 7162 form be completed online instead of by mail? I live in Mindanao Philippines and the mail system here is very slow , example i get my ss form 7162 every year and on the back the postal service stamps the date mailed, example June 8 2018 and I received it this time September 2, 2018. this happens every year , I am afraid it will not get to you in time , please advise…

    • V.V.

      Hello Ricky, beneficiaries living abroad receive the SSA-7162 annually or biannually depending upon the countries in which they reside.

      We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefit Unit or U.S. embassy in the area for any assistance related to Social Security programs and benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad.

  9. Bruce M.

    In the near future, I may decide to end my account with
    Santander Consumer Bank in Germany. I have had Soc.
    Security payments going to said bank and they have shown direct and indirect unethical ways to block my attempted communications. Are details of interest to Soc. Security in terms of a German bank not giving proper service to US citizen?

  10. Lino S.

    I’m extremely pleased to find this page. I wanted to thank you for ones time just for this fantastic read!! I definitely really liked every little bit of it and i also have you bookmarked to see new stuff on your web site.|

    • V.V.

      Thanks Lino, we appreciate your positive feedback! Certainly, we’ll continue trying to provide the best possible service to our customers in all forums.

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